Table 6.  Hires levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Feb.     Jan.    Feb.           Feb.     Jan.     Feb.
                                                   2007     2008    2008p          2007     2008     2008p

Total...........................................  4,027    3,981    3,842           3.0      2.9      2.8

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,753    3,624    3,571           3.3      3.2      3.1
  Natural resources and mining..................     21       20       20           3.0      2.8      2.8
  Construction..................................    215      235      297           3.0      3.3      4.3
  Manufacturing.................................    336      325      262           2.4      2.4      1.9
   Durable goods................................    192      188      149           2.2      2.2      1.7
   Nondurable goods.............................    144      136      113           2.9      2.7      2.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    812      710      712           3.1      2.7      2.7
   Wholesale trade..............................    138      153      116           2.3      2.5      1.9
   Retail trade.................................    539      463      469           3.6      3.0      3.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    135       94      127           2.7      1.9      2.5
  Information...................................     55       61       41           1.8      2.1      1.4
  Financial activities..........................    175      168      206           2.1      2.1      2.5
   Finance and insurance........................    113      125      123           1.8      2.1      2.0
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     62       43       83           2.9      2.0      4.0
  Professional and business services............    832      887      728           4.7      5.0      4.1
  Education and health services.................    459      482      463           2.5      2.6      2.5
   Educational services.........................     81       65       64           2.7      2.2      2.0
   Health care and social assistance............    378      417      400           2.5      2.7      2.6
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    742      628      680           5.8      4.8      5.2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     82       94       80           4.7      5.3      4.4
   Accommodation and food services.............     660      533      599           6.0      4.7      5.3
  Other services................................    106      108      162           2.0      2.0      3.0

 Government.....................................    274      357      271           1.2      1.6      1.2
  Federal.......................................     51       66       64           1.9      2.4      2.4
  State and local...............................    224      292      207           1.1      1.5      1.0

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    505      593      559           2.0      2.3      2.2
  South.........................................  1,638    1,656    1,566           3.4      3.4      3.2
  Midwest.......................................    954      851      769           3.1      2.7      2.5
  West..........................................    930      881      949           3.1      2.9      3.1

   1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
   2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
   3 See footnote 8, table 1.
   p = preliminary.